December 13, 2002	Friday	Shawwal 8, 1423

PARIS, Dec 12: French Muslims have signed a historic agreement with the government giving them a unique representational organization for the first time in their history.

The accord, as signed between the French Interior Ministry and the country’s three leading Muslim representational organizations, the Federation nationale des musulmans de France, UOIF (Union des organisations Islamiques de France), and the Grande Mosquee de Paris, will allow French Muslims to have the same rights and privileges until now possessed by the country’s other established religions, Catholicism, Protestantism and Judaism.

Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy was known to be keen on signing the accord as French Muslims, whose number is estimated at between 5 and 6 million, constitute the country’s second most important religion.

WEARING OF VEIL: French courts, which are being asked increasingly to pronounce themselves on the legality of the wearing of veil in the French workplace, are expected to hand down a series of important rulings that should allow French companies to set rules as to when and where the veils can be worn at one’s place of work.

Specialists say that the courts will probably align themselves on decisions already handed down with regard to French schools and the country’s public work sector.

In general, Muslim women are allowed to maintain their veils at French schools and while working in offices.